Tobacco-moistener



(No Model.)

W. 1. TUTTLE.

TOBACCO MOISTENBB. No. 392,575. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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WVASHINGTON I. TUTTLE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MARIE L. TUTTLE, OF SAME PLACE, AND KATIE O. BROWN, OF BUFFALO, NEW

YORK.

TOBACCO-=MOHSTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,575, dated November 6, 1888.

Serial No. 275,220. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WAsniNerroN I. TUTTLE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobaceo'Moisteners or Moistening Devices for Tobacco-Pails and Similar Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in that class of moisteners such as are well adapted for application to the interior of pails or boxes of tobacco or similar material to keep the contents moist and in good condition for handling and use.

Moisteners as heretofore constructed have been expensive and difficult to apply to particular pails or boxes unless especially constructed therefor, and even after they are in position it has been found impossible to regulate the extent of surface exposed and so graduate the amount of moisture given off.

It is the object of my present invention to, in a great mcasure,overeome these defects and to produce a moistener cheaply and one of simple design, easily attached to the pail or 0 box, and capable of regulating the amount of moisture given off; and to these ends the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will hereinafter be described,

and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a pail-top with the moistener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a per- 0 speetive view of the parts separated. Fig. 3

is a view of a modified form of damper.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate similar parts.

. The casing of the moistener A consists of 11,5 a box formed of sheet metal or other material, and preferably of circular shape, as shown. Within this casing is a suitable absorbent material-such as absorbent cotton, B--and over the latter an open-work or wire-net cover, B,

to hold the said absorbent material in place.

In order to regulate the extent of surface exposed and of course the amount of moisture given oil, I arrange suitable regulators or dampers over the open side of the casing, which may be opened to a greater or less ex- 5 tent, as occasion requires. These dampers or registers consist of two disks of sheet metal,

0 D, each having its edge turned over to form flanges F. The one C is of such size as to fit within the casing and press against the wire cover B, the flange F forcing the edges of the cover up and preventing any interference with the movement of the damper. The outer damper, D, is preferably of such size as to fit over the edges of the casing A, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and form a cover.

Secured to the inner damper, O, and projecting out through one ofthe apertures in damper D, is a handle, G,formed, for the sake of cheapness, of sheet metal, and may be simply a por- '10 tion of said damper bent up in proper p0sition;

An aperture is formed through the center of the dampers, the wire-net cover, absorbent material, and casing, and through this aper- 5 ture is inserted a bolt, H, having a head, h, thereon, which rests against the damper D and holds all the parts up in position. The end of the bolt is passed through an aperture in the cover of the pail and has a suitable knob or handle, I, screwed thereon, which holds the moistener in position and may serve as a handle for removing the pail-top, if desired. Upon the rear side of easing A are provided several projections orstudsccstruck out of the metal or otherwise formed thereon, adapted to enter the cover or wall to which the device is applied to prevent turning when the handle is screwed on.

The moistener, it will be seen, is easily ap- 9o plied to any receptacle, it only being required to bore a hole through the cover or wall, pass the bolt through the casing and cover, and screw on the knob, when it will be found to be securely fastened in position.

It will be of course understood that the absorbent material is soaked with water or other liquid either before or after being placed in the casing and may be readily refilled when required. no

The amount of moisture is easily regulated by closing the apertures in the dampers to a greater or less extent by moving one or the other-preferably theinner one'-as described.

Instead of the absorbent cotton, other absorbent materials may be employed for boldin g the liquid,such as bibulous paper or sponge, (though I prefer to employ cotton because of its exceptional absorbent qualities,) and a perforated tin cover or other means of holding the material in place may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of movable damper, in the use of which the retaining-plate for the absorbent material is dis-- pensed with and the portions corresponding to the open spaces in the other inner damper are perforated or rendered foraminous, preventing the dislodginent of the absorbent material when the damper is opened; but I prefer the arrangement shown in t.:e other-figures, for obvious reasons.

WVhile the described device is especially adapted for use as a moistener for tobacco receptacles, it can as well be applied to other receptaclessuch as bread or cake boxesand can also be used to hold disinfectants, perfumes, or other substances, the evaporation or escape of which it is desired to regulate.

The rear side of the moistener-casing may have perforations therein struck out when forming the projection, which will serve to permit the moisture to be absorbed by the absorbent material more rapidly when applied to it, as will be readily understood. These perforations are shown at a in the drawings.

I claim as my invention- 1.. In a tobacco-moistener,the combination, with the box or casing containing absorbent material, of dampers or valves forming the cover for said box or casing, adapted to hold the absorbent material in position and per mit the extent of moist surface exposed to be regulated, substantially as described.

2. In a tobacco-moistener,the combination, with the box or casing containing absorbent material, of an open-work covering for retaining the absorbent material in place, and dampers supporting said open-work covering and forming the cover for the box or casing to permit the extent of moist surface exposed to be regulated, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the casing containing absorbentmaterial and the open-work cover therefor, of the damper fitting within the casing, and a cover, having coincident apertures therein, fitting over the outside of the casing, whereby the extent of moist surface may be regulated, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the cover of a pail or other receptacle and a moistener located on the inside thereof, of a bolt for passing through said moistener and top for holding the former in place, and a knob or handle on the outside co-operating with said bolt, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the cover of a pail or otherreceptacle, and a moistener located on the inside thereof having projections to enter the cover, of a bolt passing through said moistener and top for holding the former in place, and a knob or handle on the outside cooperating with said bolt, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the cover of a pail or receptacle and a moistener located on the inside thereof, having the circular dampers for regulating the extent of moist surface exposed, of a bolt passing through said top moistener and dampers and serving to hold the moistener in place and as apivot on which the damper moves, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a receptacle, the casing containing absorbent material, a cover having apertures, and a damper arranged to close them, of a securing -bolt passing through the wall of the receptacle and casing, and a nut screwed thereon for holding the casing in position, substantially as described.

8. The combination,with the casing, a cover for the same having apertures, and a damper arranged to close them, of a securing bolt passing through the casing, and a knob or not adapted to be screwed on the bolt for securing it to a suitable support through which it is passed, substantially as described.

9. The combination,with the casing adapted to contain an evanescent substa-nee,of a cover having apertures therein, a movable damper arranged to co-operate therewith, and means, substantially as described, for attaching the casing to a suitable support, substantially as described.

10. The eombination,with the casing adapted to contain an evanescent substance,of a cover for the same, a damper arranged to co-operate therewith, and a bolt passing through said casing, cover, and damper, and a nut screwed on the bolt for holding the device in place, substantially as described.

WASHINGTON I. TUTTLE.

Witnesses:

FRED F. CHURCH, GEO. B. SELDEN. 

